Melbourne & regional Victoria
Find your family’s next great day out
Explore 45 family day trips near Melbourne and across Victoria, including teen-friendly walks, beaches, memorials, wildlife and wet-weather ideas. Every guide includes cost, timing, facilities, safety notes and directions.
Dandenong Ranges
1000 Steps – Kokoda Track Memorial Walk1000 Steps circuit 3.2 km / 1.5 h, steep · FreeFamily pickSherbrooke Forest (O'Donohue Picnic Ground)Sherbrooke Falls walk 2.4 km / 1 h, easy · FreeFamily pickGrants Picnic Ground, KallistaMargaret Lester Forest Walk 700 m loop, all-abilities · FreeFamily pickAlfred Nicholas Memorial GardensGarden loop to the lake 1.5 km, easy (steep return) · Free (paid peak autumn days possible)Family pickWilliam Ricketts SanctuarySculpture trail 500 m, easy · FreeFamily pickSkyHigh Mount DandenongSummit gardens + maze, flat · Car entry feeFamily pickPuffing Billy Railway (Belgrave)Ride the train; short forest strolls at Lakeside · Paid — book aheadFamily pickEmerald Lake ParkLake circuit 2 km, easy · Paid parkingFamily pick
Yarra Valley & Upper Yarra
Healesville SanctuaryBush-set sanctuary loop ~2 km, all-abilities · Paid (Zoos Victoria)Family pickBadger Weir Picnic Area, HealesvilleBadger Weir loop 3 km / 1 h, easy-moderate · FreeFamily pickMaroondah Reservoir ParkDam wall + valley lawns 1–3 km, easy · FreeFamily pickRedwood Forest, East WarburtonGrove wander 1–2 km, flat · FreeFamily pickLa La Falls, Warburton3 km return / 1 h, gentle climb · FreeFamily pickMt Donna BuangSummit tower + Rainforest Gallery skywalk (10 min, all-abilities) · FreeFamily pickLake Mountain Alpine ResortSnow-play areas + summer alpine boardwalks · Resort entry in snow seasonFamily pickSteavenson Falls, Marysville700 m all-abilities path to base; lookout climb optional · Free (parking fee)Family pick
Mornington Peninsula & Bayside
Arthurs Seat & Seawinds GardensSeawinds loops 1–2 km, easy; Eagle gondola optional · Free (gondola paid)Family pickCape Schanck & Bushrangers BayBoardwalk to Pulpit Rock 1 km; Bushrangers Bay 5 km return · FreeFamily pickPoint Nepean Forts & Memorial TracksRange Area 1.8 km; Fort Nepean 10.4 km return from the visitor centre, or shorten with shuttle · Free (paid shuttle optional)Family pickThe Briars, Mt MarthaWetland boardwalks + woodland loops 2–4 km, easy · FreeFamily pickCoolart Wetlands & Homestead, SomersWetland + beach tracks 1–3 km, flat · FreeFamily pickRicketts Point Marine Sanctuary, BeaumarisRockpool ramble + clifftop path, flat · FreeFamily pickCoppins Track: Sorrento to Diamond Bay3 km one way; create a longer return via beach only when tides and conditions allow · FreeFamily pickTwo Bays Walking TrailChoose a day section or tackle 26 km Dromana–Cape Schanck; overnight option available · FreeFamily pick
Close East
Yarra Bend & Studley Park BoathouseRiver loops 2–5 km, easy · Free (boat hire paid)Family pickWesterfolds Park, TemplestoweRiver + grassland loops 3–5 km, easy · FreeFamily pickPound Bend, Warrandyte State ParkTunnel loop 3.5 km / 1 h, easy · FreeFamily pickJells Park, Wheelers HillLake circuit 2.6 km, all-abilities · FreeFamily pickLysterfield Lake ParkLake circuit 6 km or beach lazing · FreeFamily pickCardinia Reservoir ParkDuffys picnic loops 1–4 km, easy · FreeFamily pick
West & Macedon
Organ Pipes National ParkPipes + Rosette Rock 2.5 km return, moderate (steep exit) · FreeFamily pickWoodlands Historic Park & Living LegendsHomestead + woodland loops 2–5 km, flat · Free (Living Legends by donation)Family pickYou Yangs Regional ParkFlinders Peak 3.2 km return / 450 steps, moderate · FreeFamily pickSerendip Sanctuary, LaraWetland walk-through aviaries 2 km, all-abilities · FreeFamily pickWerribee Gorge State ParkMeikles Point river walk easy; full Circuit 10 km hard (cable section) · FreeFamily pickLerderderg State Park (Mackenzies Flat)Riverside strolls to 4 km loops · FreeFamily pickHanging RockSummit ascent 1.8 km return, moderate — kids love the boulder maze · Car entry feeFamily pickMt Macedon — Memorial Cross & Sanatorium LakeCross lookout flat 500 m; Sanatorium Lake loop 2.8 km easy · Free (parking fee at Cross)Family pickTrentham FallsLookout 400 m return, easy · FreeFamily pick
Phillip Island
The Nobbies & Penguin Parade, Phillip IslandNobbies boardwalk 1 km, all-abilities · Boardwalk free; Penguin Parade paid — bookFamily pickCape Woolamai, Phillip IslandPinnacles walk 4.2 km return, moderate · FreeFamily pickNational Vietnam Veterans MuseumIndoor museum visit 1.5–2 h; pair with Cape Woolamai or Churchill Island · Paid — check current admissionFamily pick